Car Windmill
This is one of our favourites. It was seriously suggested that if you put a windmill on the top of a car, and then drive the car, the turbine will rotate, generate electricity, which would then drive the car. We would welcome contributions to the site explaining what is wrong with this as a concept. Contact Us... |
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All calculations on this site are based on current fuel prices they are checked regularly are automatically updated and were last changed on:- The costs calculated based on these fuel prices should be regarded as 'good estimates', given that fuel prices vary in different parts of the county and at different time of the year. The calculations also have different levels of accuracy depending on the nature of the calculation. For example calculating the energy use of a known power output TV is very easy compared to calculating the effect on energy savings when insulating a cavity wall.
We now have a bit of fun energy calculator app for android phone, click the link to find out more. Link to app
Icons are also used throughout the site to indicate the level of saving or the relative cost implications associated with an choice you might make, or a tip you read or related to how your house is currently configured. These icons below.
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pence | lowest priority |
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£ 10+ | Think twice, perhaps you should focus elsewhere first |
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£ 100+ | Worth doing |
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£ 1000+ | Focus your effort here to save as much money as possible |
In some areas there are some substantial investments you may choose to make, in sections describing these we indicate with two icons, thumbs up or down, if the investment is a good one. Payback in less than 15 years is regarded as reasonable, but longer that that poor. These icons are below.
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less than 15 years to payback investment |
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More than 15 years to payback the investment |
| Unit | Name | Detail |
| W | Watt | Unit of Power |
| kW | Kilowatt | 1000 watts |
| kWh | Kilowatt hour | Measure of Energy |
| L | Litre | Measure of Volume |
| Measures to reduce fuel bills | ROI* | ||||
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Lagging | |
1 | ||
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Loft Insulation | |
1.9 | ||
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Cavity Wall Insulation | |
2.2 | ||
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Underfloor Insulation | |
4.2 | ||
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Solid Wall Insulation | |
15.1 | ||
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Solar Hot Water | |
34 | ||
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Double Glazing | |
55.6 | ||
*ROI is the time it takes in years to return the investment in fuel savings for an average gas heated 3 bed semi-detached house. The table assumes no government incentive schemes are used. | |||||
| Renewable Energy Measures | ROI** | ||||
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Heat Pumps - Replacing Electric |
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4 to 8 | ||
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Heat Pumps - Replacing LPG |
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15 to 30 | ||
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Wind Power | |
14 to 55 | ||
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Solar Photovoltaics | |
24 to 64 | ||
**ROI is the time it takes in years to return the investment in electricity savings. The table assumes no government incentive schemes are used. | |||||
This is the best world enery graphic and simulation tool we have come across so we have put it on the home page! Wish we had done it.
